Cooking appliance comprising a cooking chamber insert for asymmetrically dividing a cooking chamber as well as specific vertical distances from a cooking food support

ABSTRACT

A cooking appliance includes a housing and a plate-shaped cooking chamber divider which divides a cooking chamber into upper and lower cooking chamber regions. A cooking food support can be inserted into a cooking food support slide-in level in the upper cooking chamber region at a distance from an upper face of the cooking chamber divider, such that the distance between the upper face of the inserted cooking chamber divider and an upper face of the inserted cooking food support is between 10 mm and 30 mm, and/or the upper cooking chamber region has a fixedly arranged heating element, with a distance between the upper face of the inserted cooking food support and the heating element in the upper cooking chamber region and/or an upper rim of a boundary flange which defines a loading opening of the cooking chamber is between 160 mm and 210 mm.

One aspect of the invention relates to a cooking appliance comprising a cooking chamber divider.

An oven is disclosed in DE 10 2010 030 471 A1. The oven has a separate cooking chamber divider element which is provided with at least one large-area heating element. The cooking chamber divider element represents an integrated unit which can be introduced into the cooking chamber of the oven at a specific slide-in level. As a result, the cooking chamber is able to be selectively divided into adjacent cooking chamber regions which can be individually heated. This integrated unit, however, only has one built-in heating element. The usability is limited thereby. Moreover, a heatable slide-in cooking chamber divider and a cooking appliance are disclosed in EP 2 431 667 A1. An upper face of the slide-in cooking chamber divider is configured as a cooking food receptacle and in this regard is designed in a tub-shaped manner. A surface heating system is built into the plate-shaped slide-in cooking chamber divider. Additionally, a temperature sensor can also be provided. This heatable slide-in cooking chamber divider is also limited relative to its usability.

An electrical baking and roasting oven is disclosed in DE 42 17 545 A1. The oven has a plate which can be inserted into the cooking chamber and which has a heating body which outputs heat downwardly. The plate has insulation with a recess which is configured on the lower face and in which the heating body is arranged.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a cooking appliance in which the use of cooking chamber sub-regions of a cooking chamber is improved.

This object is achieved by a cooking appliance according to the independent claims.

An independent aspect of the invention relates to a cooking appliance comprising a housing in which a cooking chamber is formed. The cooking appliance also comprises a plate-shaped cooking chamber divider. The cooking chamber divider is considered per se a separate component of the cooking appliance. The cooking chamber divider is separate from the housing. The cooking chamber divider has a base unit which, in particular, is plate-shaped. Moreover, the cooking chamber divider has at least one heating element. This heating element is arranged, in particular, on the base unit. The heating element is fixedly arranged thereon. The cooking chamber has at least one slide-in level on which the cooking chamber divider can be positioned in the cooking chamber so that the cooking chamber is divided into an upper cooking chamber region and, when viewed in the height direction of the cooking appliance, into a lower cooking chamber region located therebelow. The positioning of the cooking chamber divider in the cooking chamber is such that, when viewed in the height direction, the upper cooking chamber region is higher than the lower cooking chamber region. In this aspect, it is essential that the upper cooking chamber region has at least one cooking food support slide-in level for a cooking food support which is different from the cooking chamber divider, so that a cooking food support of the cooking appliance can be positioned in the upper cooking chamber region at a distance from an upper face of the cooking chamber divider, wherein a distance, when viewed in the height direction, between the upper face of the cooking chamber divider in the state inserted into the cooking chamber divider slide-in level, and an upper face of the cooking food support in the state inserted into the cooking food support slide-in level, is between 10 mm and 30 mm, in particular between 19 mm and 24 mm. Additionally or alternatively, in this aspect of the cooking appliance it is provided that the upper cooking chamber region has a fixedly arranged heating element as a top-heat and/or grill heating body, wherein a distance, when viewed in the height direction, between the upper face of the cooking food support in the state inserted into the cooking food support slide-in level, and a lower face of the top-heat and/or grill heating body in the upper cooking chamber region and/or a lower face of an upper defining wall of a loading opening of the cooking chamber, is between 160 mm and 210 mm, in particular between 166 mm and 189 mm. Thus the loading and handling of components in the respective cooking chamber regions is made possible in a particularly simple manner when the cooking chamber divider is arranged in the cooking chamber. In particular, due to these respective individual distances of a cooking food support relative to further components in the upper cooking chamber region, larger cooking food support receptacles can also be particularly advantageously introduced into the upper cooking chamber region without striking other components, in particular heating elements. Moreover, in this regard in an upper cooking chamber region a very advantageous heating is made possible using different types of heating, in particular hot air and/or top heat and/or a grill and/or bottom heat. In such a smaller upper cooking chamber region, in comparison with the entire cooking chamber, due to these very specific distances in the height direction it is also possible that the entire hot air system of the cooking appliance can also be used only for this upper cooking chamber region and/or the top-heat and/or grill heating body can also be used only for the upper cooking chamber region. Nevertheless, in this regard an undesired overheating or an occurrence of poorer food preparation results is avoided in the upper cooking chamber region.

A further independent aspect of the invention relates to a cooking appliance comprising a housing. A cooking chamber of the cooking appliance is configured in the housing. The cooking appliance also comprises a plate-shaped cooking chamber divider. The plate-shaped cooking chamber divider is considered per se as a separate component of the cooking appliance. The cooking chamber divider is configured separately from the housing. The cooking chamber divider has a plate-shaped base unit. The cooking chamber divider also has at least one heating element. The heating element is arranged on this base unit. In particular, the heating element is fixedly arranged thereon. The cooking chamber divider together with the base unit and the at least one heating element is a portable component. The cooking chamber divider is able to be non-destructively and releasably removed from the cooking chamber and re-introduced again. The cooking chamber also has at least one slide-in level. This is a cooking chamber divider slide-in level at which the cooking chamber divider can be positioned as intended in the cooking chamber. When viewed in the height direction of the cooking appliance, the cooking chamber is divided into an upper cooking chamber region and a further cooking chamber region by the cooking chamber divider, and the positioning thereof at this defined predetermined cooking chamber divider slide-in level. The cooking chamber divider thus separates the cooking chamber into two separate cooking chamber regions. These cooking chamber regions are separated in terms of volume by the cooking chamber divider, in particular entirely from one another. The base unit of the cooking chamber divider forms, in particular, a continuous and uninterrupted unit. The cooking chamber divider thus forms in this regard a bottom wall for the upper cooking chamber region and at the same time a top wall for the lower cooking chamber region. The cooking appliance also has a hot air system. Hot air can be conducted thereby into the cooking chamber as intended. A wall of the cooking appliance defining the cooking chamber has ventilation openings through which the hot air of the hot air system can be conducted directly into the cooking chamber. All of the ventilation openings, which are provided in the wall to conduct the hot air of the hot air system into the cooking chamber as intended, are arranged only above the cooking chamber divider slide-in level, when viewed in the height direction of the cooking appliance.

An improved mode of operation of the cooking appliance can be achieved by means of such a cooking appliance with a specifically positioned cooking chamber divider, in particular relative to the ventilation openings of the hot air system. Thus it is possible, in particular, that in the inserted state of the cooking chamber divider the hot air system can be used in the desired and defined manner only for the upper cooking chamber region. Thus food preparation results can be improved in the upper cooking chamber region, in particular in hot air mode. In particular, it is also achieved by such a separation that the individual cooking chamber regions are not mutually influenced by an extensively arranged hot air system. Particularly advantageously, it is also achieved by such a separation using the cooking chamber divider and the specific positioning of the ventilation openings that, for example, a hot air mode is made possible in the upper cooking chamber region, irrespective of the operation of a different type of heating in the lower cooking chamber region. It is also very advantageously possible that the operation of the hot air system is made possible in the upper cooking chamber region and at the same time the lower cooking chamber region is not used at all or is designed not to be undesirably heated at the same time.

Since these ventilation openings are also arranged in the height direction in the upper cooking chamber region, the accessibility is also improved to the cooking chamber region in which a hot air mode is also made possible in the inserted state of the cooking chamber divider. Thus a more individual and more appropriate use, in particular of different types of heating, in the individual cooking chamber regions is also made possible by means of the design of the cooking appliance. Thus the multiplicity and variability for the preparation of cooking food, in particular also the simultaneous preparation of different cooking foods in the two cooking chamber regions, is increased in the inserted state of the cooking chamber divider.

In particular, the cooking appliance has only a single hot air system. This means, in particular, that in principle when the cooking chamber divider is inserted, the lower cooking chamber sub-region is not able to be operated with its own separate hot air system or a hot air system is not present in the cooking appliance for the lower cooking chamber region.

In one exemplary embodiment, in the state of the cooking chamber divider inserted into the cooking chamber divider slide-in level, the hot air system acts only in the upper cooking chamber region when it is activated. The advantages mentioned relative thereto are already set forth above.

In one exemplary embodiment, a heating element of the cooking chamber divider is a top-heat heating body for the lower cooking chamber region when the cooking chamber divider is arranged in the cooking chamber divider slide-in level. A high degree of functionality of this cooking chamber divider is achieved thereby. In particular, the lower cooking chamber region can then be very specifically heated from above. In one exemplary embodiment, this heating element, which is provided as a top-heat heating body, can be arranged on the cooking chamber divider so as to be exposed downwardly. A particularly effective heat input into the lower cooking chamber region is then made possible.

In one exemplary embodiment, a heating element of the cooking chamber divider is a bottom-heat heating body for the upper cooking chamber region when the cooking chamber divider is arranged in the cooking chamber divider slide-in level. Thus the multifunctionality of the cooking chamber divider is increased. Thus a bottom-heat heating body can also be provided in addition to the hot air system in the upper cooking chamber region. This is a heating body which can be temporarily positioned and reversibly removed, since it is directly arranged on the cooking chamber divider. If the cooking chamber divider is removed, this bottom-heat heating body can also be removed from the cooking chamber. It is also possible to load heating elements which can be introduced and removed in a reversible manner, as required, by means of this exemplary embodiment. A particularly large number of possible configurations of the individual cooking chamber regions regarding the respective heating option is provided thereby.

In one exemplary embodiment, it is also possible that the cooking chamber divider has only one top-heat heating body. This top-heat heating body is thus arranged on a lower face of the cooking chamber divider, in particular the base unit. In a further exemplary embodiment, a cooking chamber divider can have only one bottom-heat heating body. Such a bottom-heat heating body can be arranged so as to be exposed upwardly on the upper face of the base unit. It is also possible that such a bottom-heat heating body of the cooking chamber divider is arranged so as to be concealed upwardly, in particular in the base unit. Thus it is also possible that further components can optionally be directly applied to the upper face of the base unit.

In a further exemplary embodiment of the cooking chamber divider, both a top-heat heating body and a bottom-heat heating body can be present.

In one exemplary embodiment, the upper cooking chamber region is configured with a different height from the height of the lower cooking chamber region. As a result, when viewed in the height direction, the cooking chamber is divided asymmetrically in a defined manner and as desired by the position of the cooking chamber divider in the cooking chamber divider slide-in level. Thus specifically regarding the hot air system, which is designed to act in the upper cooking chamber region, in particular only to act there when the cooking chamber divider is inserted, a very appropriate use is made possible. In particular, this is advantageous when the upper cooking chamber region is higher than the lower cooking chamber region. The accessibility, on the one hand, and the loading with taller components and/or stored items, on the other hand, is made possible thereby in an improved manner in this upper cooking chamber region.

In one exemplary embodiment, the height of the upper cooking chamber region is greater by at least 10 percent, in particular between 10 percent and 30 percent, than the height of the lower cooking chamber region. It is also advantageously made possible thereby that a height of the upper cooking chamber region is present which can use the entire hot air system of the cooking appliance. On the other hand, in the removed state of the cooking chamber divider this hot air system can also be used for heating the entire cooking chamber. Thus one and the same hot air system of the cooking appliance can be used fully, in each case both with the cooking chamber divider inserted and without the cooking chamber divider inserted.

In one exemplary embodiment, the upper cooking chamber region has at least one slide-in level, in particular a cooking food support slide-in level, for a cooking food support which is different from the cooking chamber divider. As a result, a cooking chamber divider can be positioned in the upper cooking chamber region spaced apart from an upper face of the cooking chamber divider. This is particularly advantageous since no undesired mutual interference occurs between the cooking chamber divider, on the one hand, and the cooking food support, on the other hand. Moreover, due to such a spacing, the handling of these individual components, in particular when they are arranged at the same time in the cooking chamber, is also simpler. The removal and insertion can take place in a simple manner in each case independently of the other component. One of the two components can then also be partially pulled out in a very simple manner, entirely independently of the other component. Moreover, due to such a spacing, the heat transfer to the cooking food support and, in particular, also to the cooking food applied to the cooking food support is also particularly advantageous. The food preparation results are improved thereby.

It is particularly advantageous if a distance, when viewed in the height direction, between the upper face of the cooking chamber divider in the state inserted into the cooking chamber divider slide-in level and an upper face of the cooking food support in the state inserted into the cooking food support slide-in level is between 10 mm and 30 mm. Preferably, this distance is between 19 mm and 24 mm. The aforementioned advantages are achieved, in particular, by these specific distance values, in particular. Not least, the efficiency of the hot air system relative to the cooking food applied to the cooking food support is also particularly advantageous as a result. This is because it is provided, in particular, that in this positioning, but not only there, at least half of the ventilation openings of the hot air system arranged in the wall, when viewed in the height direction, in particular at least 70 percent of the ventilation openings arranged in the wall, which belong to the hot air system, are arranged above the upper face of the cooking food support, when viewed in the height direction. Thus the hot air of the hot air system, which is introduced through the ventilation openings directly into the upper cooking chamber region, can flow in from above particularly comprehensively onto the cooking food support. This enables a particularly advantageous food preparation result. This value applies if the upper cooking chamber region has only one cooking food support slide-in level. If the upper cooking chamber region has a plurality of cooking food support slide-in levels, this value applies, in particular, to the cooking food support slide-in level which, when viewed in the height direction, is located closest to the cooking chamber divider.

In one exemplary embodiment, the upper cooking chamber region has a fixedly arranged heating element. This heating element is a top-heat and/or grill heating body. Thus in the upper cooking chamber region it is also possible to adjust the top-heat function and/or the grill function. In particular, this top-heat and/or grill heating body is arranged fixedly on a top wall which defines the volume space of the cooking chamber. Such a wall can, for example, be a top wall of a muffle of the cooking appliance.

A muffle directly defines the cooking chamber with its side walls, its bottom wall and its top wall. In one exemplary embodiment, a volume space is configured between a rear wall of the muffle and the wall which defines the cooking chamber on the rear face. This volume space is also denoted as the hot air box. A fan and a heating body which are constituent parts of the hot air system can be arranged therein. The wall in which the ventilation openings of the hot air system are configured can also be denoted as the baffle wall. When viewed in the depth direction of the cooking appliance, the baffle wall is arranged in front of the rear wall of the muffle and spaced apart from the rear wall of the muffle.

The variability of the upper cooking chamber region can be increased due to this configuration with the top-heat and/or grill heating body arranged fixedly in the upper cooking chamber region. Many different types of heating are thus possible individually in the upper cooking region, in the inserted state of the cooking chamber divider. The upper cooking chamber region can thus be used in many different ways relative to the heating options. This can also be implemented independently of the lower cooking chamber region.

In one exemplary embodiment, when viewed in the height direction, a distance between the upper face of the cooking food support in the state inserted into the cooking food support slide-in level and a lower face of the top-heat and/or grill heating body and/or a lower face of an upper defining wall of a loading opening of the cooking chamber in the upper cooking chamber region is between 160 mm and 210 mm. In particular, this distance is between 166 mm and 189 mm. In this exemplary embodiment, the specific distance values also positively contribute to the advantages already mentioned above. The handling and accessibility to the components in the upper cooking chamber region, in particular in the cooking chamber divider and the cooking food arranged thereon, is also made possible thereby in a simple manner which is easy to access. Moreover, the heating action of the hot air system, on the one hand, and/or the top-heat and/or grill heating body in the upper cooking chamber region, on the other hand, is made possible thereby in a particularly advantageous manner. Not least, due to this spacing, the introduction of larger components for receiving cooking food can also be made possible. For example, these components for receiving cooking food can be tall baking tins for cakes or the like. For example, it is also possible to receive a bundt baking tin here in a simple manner. Other correspondingly tall units for receiving cooking food can thus also be easily and simply received. For example, even roasting dishes.

In one exemplary embodiment, the lower cooking chamber region has a fixedly arranged heating element. This heating element can be a bottom-heat heating body for the lower cooking chamber region. This heating element is also arranged externally to the cooking chamber divider and also remains in the cooking chamber when the cooking chamber divider is removed. This bottom-heat heating body can also be used as such when the cooking chamber divider is removed. Then this bottom-heat heating body acts from below for the entire cooking chamber. The same also applies in the advantageous exemplary embodiment as has been mentioned above, in which a fixedly arranged top-heat and/or grill heating body is arranged at the top in the upper cooking chamber region.

In one exemplary embodiment, in the inserted state of the cooking chamber divider in the cooking chamber, the upper cooking chamber region has a height which is between 18 cm and 23 cm, in particular between 19 cm and 20 cm, in particular is 19.5 cm. In particular, the height can be between 20 cm and 23 cm, in particular between 21 cm and 22 cm. In particular, this height is measured between the upper face of the cooking chamber divider and the upper heating element and/or the lower edge of the upper boundary flange which defines the loading opening.

In one exemplary embodiment, in the inserted state of the cooking chamber divider in the cooking chamber, the lower cooking chamber region has a height which is between 12 cm and 15 cm, in particular between 12 cm and 14 cm, in particular 13 cm. In particular, this height is measured between the lower face of the cooking chamber divider and the bottom wall of the muffle and/or an upper edge of a lower boundary flange which defines the loading opening.

In one exemplary embodiment, these height dimensions of the cooking chamber regions are also further independent aspects of the cooking appliance and thus also possible without specifying the height distances of the cooking chamber divider from a cooking food support and/or a cooking chamber divider from a lower edge of an upper boundary flange which defines the loading opening of the cooking chamber.

In one exemplary embodiment, the cooking chamber has at least two cooking food support slide-in levels which are arranged at different heights. In the state of the cooking chamber divider removed from the cooking chamber, both cooking food support slide-in levels can be supplied with hot air at the same time by the hot air system. Thus the cooking appliance can be operated as a conventional cooking appliance in the removed state of the cooking chamber divider. In this operating state, a plurality of different cooking food support slide-in levels can also be supplied with hot air from the hot air system and correspondingly cooking food can be prepared at the same time on the different cooking food support slide-in levels.

A cooking food support can be, for example, a baking sheet or a rack or a drip pan or the like. In this context, a cooking food support is not a cooking chamber divider. A cooking food support does not have a separate heating element.

In one exemplary embodiment, the cooking chamber is divided by the inserted cooking chamber divider such that different types of heating can be implemented at the same time in the two cooking chamber regions. In particular, this is made possible by the types of heating not influencing or substantially not influencing the cooking chamber regions when they are implemented at the same time in the respective cooking chamber regions. In particular, in this regard correspondingly the cooking chamber divider advantageously separates the two cooking chamber regions.

In one exemplary embodiment, a heating element of the cooking chamber divider, in particular the heating element when only one thereof is present, has electrical terminal contacts. These electrical terminal contacts protrude, in particular, so as to be exposed from an edge region of the cooking chamber divider in the horizontal direction. In particular, these electrical terminal contacts are arranged such that they automatically come into contact with electrical mating terminal contacts of the cooking appliance when the cooking chamber divider is moved into the inserted end position in the cooking chamber, and thus in the inserted end position in the cooking chamber divider slide-in level. These mating terminal contacts are fixedly arranged, in particular, in the rear region of the cooking appliance.

In this manner the cooking chamber divider, in particular the heating element of the cooking chamber divider, can be supplied with electrical energy.

In one exemplary embodiment, the cooking chamber divider has support feet. In one exemplary embodiment, these support feet extend further downwardly in the height direction than the at least one heating element of the cooking chamber divider. As a result, the cooking chamber divider can also be positioned easily on a surface, for example a countertop of a row of kitchen units. This can also be implemented such that the heating element is arranged without contact with this surface. Damage to the heating element, on the one hand, and to the countertop, on the other hand, can be avoided as a result, by avoiding the direct positioning of the heating element on this countertop.

Moreover, a stable positioning of the cooking chamber divider on a surface is also made possible by means of these support feet.

Advantageous exemplary embodiments of the first independent aspect of the invention are to be regarded as advantageous exemplary embodiments of the aforementioned further independent aspect of the invention relative to the cooking appliance.

The heating element can have a tubular heating body and/or a radiant heating body and/or an induction heating system. Thus many different and varied energy sources can be provided as heating elements for the cooking chamber insert or the cooking chamber divider. In this context, the energy generated by the heating element can thus be heat energy. The energy can, however, also be electromagnetic energy as is relevant in the case of induction heating. The heating element can be connected to an electrical energy source for this energy generation so that the generation of the energy of the heating element is started by means of the electrical energy.

Such an electrical energy source can be a constituent part of the cooking chamber insert. This electrical energy source, however, can also be arranged externally to the cooking chamber insert. In particular, the cooking chamber divider thus has electrical contacts or terminal contacts. These contacts can be brought into contact with electrical mating contacts, so that the electrical energy from the electrical energy source is transmitted via this contact interface to the heating element of the cooking chamber divider.

If the cooking chamber divider has a separate electrical energy source, this can be a battery or a rechargeable battery, for example.

If the cooking chamber divider does not have such a separate electrical energy source, for example, the cooking chamber divider can be connected to the power grid.

In one exemplary embodiment, the base unit has at least one material region which is configured as a thermal insulation region on the side of the heating element opposing the receiving region. As a result, the cooking chamber divider is designed such that it permits an energy output in a very targeted manner via the energy output unit. Thus a corresponding energy output is not provided in all directions of the cooking chamber divider. Due to this thermal insulation region it is also possible that the cooking chamber divider can be mounted in a more flexible and variable manner in the cooking chamber. In this context, on the one hand, components facing the thermal insulation region and, in particular, also neighboring components or components directly bearing thereagainst in the cooking chamber can be protected from undesired energy transmission. In particular, an undesired heating of these components is prevented thereby. On the other hand, a targeted energy output is implemented via the receiving region and the energy output unit arranged therein.

In one exemplary embodiment, this thermal insulation region comprises aerogel as the thermally insulating material. This material is very lightweight, on the one hand, and is particularly advantageous relative to the thermally insulating action, on the other hand. The thermal insulation region can also have a vacuum unit.

In addition to the exemplary embodiment already mentioned above, in which aerogel is provided as the material region for the thermal insulation region, a vacuum unit can also be configured as a thermal insulation region in the base unit. However, a combination of an aerogel and a vacuum unit can also be provided. As a result, a design which is lightweight and particularly well insulating is implemented. In particular, such a generally provided design of the cooking chamber divider with minimal weight is thus advantageous when the cooking chamber divider is not arranged on the bottom of a wall defining the cooking chamber, but is virtually suspended relative thereto.

In particular, when viewed in the width direction of the cooking appliance, the cooking chamber divider substantially has a width which corresponds to the clear width between two vertical side walls which define the cooking chamber. A particularly simple mounting of the cooking chamber divider on these opposing vertical side walls is also made possible thereby. In particular, when viewed in the depth direction of the cooking appliance, the cooking chamber divider substantially has a depth which corresponds to the clear width between the wall and a front loading opening of the cooking chamber.

In one exemplary embodiment, it is also possible by means of the invention to provide the cooking chamber divider as a retrofitted system for a cooking appliance. Thus it is also possible that a cooking appliance is provided in an individual basic configuration. Depending on whether a user would like a functional extension, this at least one cooking chamber divider or even a plurality of cooking chamber dividers can be retrofitted as retrofit components. In particular, in this context it is also possible that only the basic configuration is provided in the cooking chamber divider. For the individual design of an arrangement, a user then can additionally retrofit one or more energy output units, as desired or required, so the user can configure a customized arrangement with the cooking chamber divider and at least one energy output unit.

One aspect of the invention thus also relates to a retrofit system for a cooking appliance. The retrofit system has a cooking chamber divider according to the aforementioned aspect or an advantageous exemplary embodiment thereof. The retrofit system can also have an arrangement according to the aforementioned aspect or an advantageous exemplary embodiment thereof.

The positions and orientations provided when the cooking chamber divider or the appliance is used as intended and arranged as intended are specified by the terms “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “horizontally”, “vertically”, “depth direction”, “width direction”, “height direction”, etc.

Further features of the invention are found in the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description and the features and combinations of features mentioned hereinafter in the description of the figures and/or shown individually in the figures are not only able to be used in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus embodiments of the invention are to be regarded as encompassed and disclosed which are not explicitly shown and explained in the figures but which emerge from and can be generated by separate combinations of features from the explained embodiments. Embodiments and combinations of features, which thus do not have all of the features of an originally formulated independent claim, are also to be regarded as disclosed.

Exemplary embodiments of they invention are explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to schematic drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective front view of an exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a cooking chamber divider.

Elements which are the same or functionally the same are provided with the same reference signs in the figures.

In FIG. 1 an exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance 1 is shown in a front view. The cooking appliance 1 can be an oven or a microwave appliance or a steam cooking appliance. Two or more of these functionalities can also be present in one cooking appliance 1. The cooking appliance 1 has a housing 2. A cooking chamber 3 is formed in the housing 2. In one exemplary embodiment, the cooking chamber 3 is defined by walls 4, 5, 6 and 7 of a muffle 8.

Moreover, the muffle 8 also has a rear wall 9. When viewed in the depth direction of the cooking appliance 1, which is oriented perpendicular to the plane of the figures, a further wall 10 is arranged in the cooking chamber 3. The wall 10 is separate from the rear wall 9. The wall 10 defines the cooking chamber 3 directly on the rear face. The wall 10 can also be denoted as the baffle wall. A free space 11 is formed between this wall 10 and the rear wall 9. A hot air box is produced thereby. The cooking appliance 1 also has a hot air system 12 relative thereto. This hot air system has a fan, not shown, and a heating element which are arranged in this free space 11. Hot air can be generated by the hot air system 12 in the activated mode and conducted out of the free space 11 directly into the cooking chamber 3 through a plurality of ventilation openings 13 in the wall 10.

Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment the cooking appliance 1 also has a heating element 14. This heating element is a top-heat and/or grill heating body of the cooking appliance 1 in this case. This heating element 14 is arranged in the upper region of the cooking chamber 3. In particular, the heating element is arranged so as to be exposed downwardly and directly adjacent to the top wall 7. The heating element 14 is fixedly arranged in the cooking chamber 3. Thus, in particular, the heating element cannot be releasably and non-destructively removed therefrom.

Moreover, in one exemplary embodiment the cooking appliance 1 has a further heating element 15. This heating element, when viewed in the height direction (y-direction), is arranged in the lower region of the housing 2, in particular directly below the bottom wall 6, in particular directly below the wall 6. This heating element 15 is a bottom-heat heating body of the cooking appliance 1 for the cooking chamber 3.

In the exemplary embodiment, when viewed in the height direction, the cooking appliance 1 has a plurality of separate slide-in levels. In this context, a plurality of cooking food support slide-in levels 16, 17, 18, 19 a and 19 b are formed. The number of cooking food support slide-in levels 16 to 19 b is to be understood merely by way of example. These cooking food support slide-in levels 16 to 19 b, which are intended such that a cooking food support of the cooking appliance 1 can be inserted and held thereon at a specific vertical position, can be directly configured on the inner faces of the lateral walls 4 and 5. In a further exemplary embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 , a separate support unit 20 of the cooking appliance 1 which is held on the wall 4 can be provided. The support unit 20 can be, for example, a carrier frame. This carrier frame can be constructed from bars. Accordingly, a further carrier frame can be correspondingly designed as a support unit 21 and positioned on the opposing side. Thus at least one cooking food support 22 can be arranged on these support units 20 and 21 at the aforementioned cooking food support slide-in levels 16 to 19 b. A cooking food support 22 can be, for example, a rack or a baking sheet or a drip pan or the like.

Moreover, the cooking appliance 1 also has a portable cooking chamber divider 23. The cooking chamber divider 23 in this case is, in particular, plate-shaped. The cooking chamber divider is a separate and different component from a cooking food support 22. In one exemplary embodiment, the cooking chamber divider 23 extends in the width direction (x-direction) of the cooking appliance 1 substantially over the entire clear width between the lateral vertical walls 4 and 5. In the depth direction, this cooking chamber divider 23 extends substantially over the entire depth between the wall 10 and, in particular, a front boundary flange 24 of the muffle 8 and/or a loading opening of the cooking chamber 3. The plate-shaped cooking chamber divider 23 is also configured without interruption in its surface dimensions. The cooking chamber divider can be positioned in the cooking chamber 3 at a defined predetermined slide-in level which represents a cooking chamber divider slide-in level 25. In particular, only one such cooking chamber divider slide-in level 25 is formed. As a result, the entire cooking chamber 3 can be divided into an upper cooking chamber region 3 a and into a separate lower cooking chamber region 3 b. The cooking chamber divider 23 thus represents a bottom wall of the upper cooking chamber region 3 a and at the same time a top wall of the lower cooking chamber region 3 b.

The cooking chamber divider 23 is shown in perspective in one exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2 . The cooking chamber divider 23 is configured to be rectangular. The cooking chamber divider has a base unit 26. The base unit 26 is plate-shaped. Moreover, the cooking chamber divider 23 has at least one heating element 27. This heating element is arranged directly on the base unit 26. The heating element is arranged on a lower face 26 a of the base unit 26. In the exemplary embodiment, the heating element 27 is arranged so as to be exposed downwardly. In this regard the heating element 27 is fixedly connected and thus coupled in terms of movement to the base unit 26. In one exemplary embodiment, this heating element 27 has electrical terminal contacts 28 and 29 on the end side. These electrical terminal contacts are arranged so as to be exposed at the side. The electrical terminal contacts are horizontally oriented. When the cooking chamber divider 23 is inserted into the cooking chamber 3, these electrical terminal contacts 28 and 29 are automatically fixedly arranged with the rear region of the housing 2 and brought into contact with electrical mating terminal contacts of the cooking appliance 1. As a result, electrical energy can be conducted to the cooking chamber divider 23, in particular the heating element 27, when the cooking chamber divider 23 is arranged in the inserted end position in the cooking chamber 3 at its cooking chamber divider slide-in level 25.

In one exemplary embodiment, the base unit 26 can be configured to be thermally insulating. As a result, the upper cooking chamber region 3 a is thermally insulated from the lower cooking chamber region 3 b. In particular, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the heating element 27 serves as a top-heat heating body for the lower cooking chamber region 3 b. As can be identified, the cooking chamber divider 23 and thus also the cooking chamber divider slide-in level 25 are spaced apart from the lower wall 6 and also the upper wall 7. As a result, each of the two cooking chamber regions 3 a and 3 b has a specific height, so that in each case it is dimensioned separately and independently of the other cooking chamber region 3 a and 3 b and at the same time in each case for loading with components and/or cooking food. Thus a simultaneous use of the cooking chamber regions 3 a and 3 b can also be provided for the preparation of cooking foods.

As can also be identified in FIG. 2 , in one exemplary embodiment the cooking chamber divider 23 has support feet 30 and 31. Further support feet can also be provided in the rear region, in particular in the rear corner regions of the base unit 26. When viewed in the height direction of the cooking chamber divider 23, these support feet 30 and 31 extend further downwardly than the heating element 27. In particular, in the rear region, structures can be provided which terminate the heating element 27 further upwardly than these structures 32 relative to the vertical position. These structures 32 can be support feet. However, when viewed in the width direction it can also be a continuous wall rib. Due to the support feet 30 and 31 and the structure 32, the cooking chamber divider 23 can be positioned in a stable and, in particular tilt-free manner, on a surface, for example a countertop. In particular, this can be implemented such that the heating element 27 can be positioned without contact with this surface.

As can be identified in FIG. 1 in one exemplary embodiment, the upper cooking chamber region 3 a is higher than the lower cooking chamber region 3 b, when viewed in the height direction. As a result, an approximately asymmetrical division of the cooking chamber 3 is provided by the defined predetermined cooking chamber divider slide-in level 25. In particular, the cooking appliance 1 has only one such fixedly predetermined cooking chamber divider slide-in level 25.

As can also be identified, the ventilation openings 13 are all arranged in the wall 10 above the cooking chamber divider 23. This also means that when the cooking chamber divider 23 is arranged at its inserted end position in the cooking chamber 3, hot air from the activated hot air system 12 can flow only into the upper cooking chamber region 3 a through the ventilation openings 13. The hot air system 12 is then only provided for the upper cooking chamber region 3 a.

In one exemplary embodiment, it is provided that a distance d1, measured in the height direction, as illustrated in FIG. 1 is between 10 mm and 30 mm, in particular between 19 mm and 24 mm. This distance d1 is dimensioned in the height direction between an upper face 3 a of the cooking chamber divider 23 when it is arranged in its end position in the cooking chamber divider slide-in level 25 and, in particular, an upper face 22 a of the cooking food support 22 when this cooking food support 22 is arranged in the inserted end state. In particular, this relates to the cooking food support slide-in level when only one such cooking food support slide-in level is present in the upper cooking chamber region 3 a. In one exemplary embodiment, if a plurality of cooking food support slide-in levels 16, 17 and 18 are present in the upper cooking chamber region 3 a, this distance d1 is to be understood to relate to the cooking food support slide-in level 18 which in the height direction lies closest to the upper face 23 a of the cooking chamber divider 23. In particular, with a plurality of cooking food support slide-in levels 16 to 18 in the upper cooking chamber region 3 a, this distance d1 applies between the upper faces 22 a and 23 a when the cooking food support 22 is inserted in the lowest cooking food support slide-in level 18.

In one exemplary embodiment, it is also provided that a distance d2 measured in the height direction is between 160 mm and 210 mm, in particular between 166 mm and 189 mm. This is the distance, in particular, between the upper face 22 a of the cooking food support 22 and the heating element 14 and/or a lower rim 24 a of a defining wall which upwardly defines the loading opening of the cooking chamber 3. This defining wall can be an upper front flange region, in particular a constituent part of the muffle. In particular, in exemplary embodiments in which a plurality of cooking food support slide-in levels 16 to 18 are possible in the upper cooking chamber region 3 a, this relates to the situation in which the cooking food support 22 is arranged in the lowest cooking food support slide-in level 18 in the height direction in the upper cooking chamber region 3 a.

As can also be identified in an exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 , with such a positioning of the cooking food support 22, in particular with the distances d1 and/or d2, at least half of the ventilation openings 13, when viewed in the height direction of the cooking appliance 1, are above the cooking food support 22, in particular at least 70 percent of these ventilation openings 13 are above the cooking food support 22, in particular above the upper face 22 a. As can also be identified, when viewed in the height direction, no ventilation opening 13 is arranged below the cooking chamber divider 23 when this cooking chamber divider is positioned at the cooking chamber divider slide-in level 25. Thus this hot air system 12 does not act in the lower cooking chamber region 3 b when the cooking chamber divider 23 is inserted.

If the cooking chamber divider 23 is removed from the cooking chamber 3, the cooking appliance 1 can then be used for the entire cooking chamber 3 using the different types of heating thereof, in particular the hot air system 12 and/or the heating element 14 and/or the heating element 15. In particular, at the same time cooking food supports 22 can thus be positioned at the different cooking food support slide-in levels 16, 17, 18, 19 a, and 19 b. In particular, the distance d2 is also the minimum distance between the upper face 22 a and the lower rim 24 a of the peripheral boundary flange 24 which defines the loading opening of the cooking chamber 3 on the front face. Thus a simple introduction and removal of cooking food receptacles, such as relatively tall baking tins, from the upper cooking chamber region 3 a or into the upper cooking chamber region 3 a is also made possible, in particular when the cooking food support 22 is arranged on the lowest cooking food support slide-in level 18.

Due to the various heating elements of the cooking appliance 1, the cooking chamber regions 3 a and 3 b can also be individually used or different types of heating can be implemented at the same time in the individual cooking chamber regions 3 a and 3 b. Thus it is possible, for example, that in the inserted state of the cooking chamber divider 23 the type of heating, namely hot air and/or top-heat and/or a grill, is activated in the upper cooking chamber region 3 a. Additionally or alternatively, to this end the heating element 27 of the cooking chamber divider 23 can be activated and thus a top-heat heating body activated in the lower cooking chamber region 3 b. Additionally or alternatively, the bottom-heat heating body can be activated. For example, roasting dishes can also be introduced as cooking food receptacles into the upper cooking chamber region 3 a in a simple and user-friendly manner. This is possible, in particular, when due to the defined specifications regarding the height of the cooking chamber regions 3 a and 3 b and the position of the cooking chamber divider 23 and/or a lowest positioning of a cooking food support 22 in the upper cooking chamber region 3 a, the entire height of the cooking chamber 3 corresponds to a standard height.

This height d3, in particular between the upper rim 24 a and the opposing lower rim of the boundary flange 24 can be, for example, between 30 and 35, in particular between 31 cm and 33 cm. In particular, a situation is provided by the aforementioned dimensions and positions in which the cooking chamber divider 23 can remain in the cooking chamber 3 for many different applications. A frequent removal and reinsertion can thus be avoided.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   -   1 Cooking appliance     -   2 Housing     -   3 Cooking chamber     -   3 a Upper cooking chamber region     -   3 b Lower cooking chamber region     -   4 Wall     -   5 Wall     -   6 Wall     -   7 Wall     -   8 Muffle     -   9 Rear wall     -   10 Wall     -   11 Free space     -   12 Hot air system     -   13 Ventilation opening     -   14 Heating element     -   15 Heating element     -   16 Cooking food support slide-in level     -   17 Cooking food support slide-in level     -   18 Cooking food support slide-in level     -   18 a Cooking food support slide-in level     -   19 Cooking food support slide-in level     -   19 a Cooking food support slide-in level     -   20 Support unit     -   21 Carrier frame     -   22 Cooking food support     -   22 a Upper face     -   23 Cooking chamber divider     -   23 Upper face     -   24 Boundary flange     -   24 a Lower rim     -   25 Cooking chamber divider slide-in level     -   26 Base unit     -   26 a Lower face     -   27 Heating element     -   28 Terminal contact     -   29 Terminal contact     -   Support foot     -   31 Support foot     -   32 Structure     -   d1 Distance     -   d2 Distance     -   d3 Distance     -   x Width direction     -   y Height direction     -   z Depth direction 

1-11. (canceled)
 12. A cooking appliance, comprising: a housing having a cooking chamber with a cooking chamber divider slide-in level; a plate-shaped cooking chamber divider designed for positioning on the cooking chamber divider slide-in level to divide the cooking chamber into an upper cooking chamber region and into a lower cooking chamber region, with the upper cooking region positioned at a height which is higher than a height of the lower cooking region, said upper cooking chamber region having a cooking food support slide-in level; and a cooking food support different from the cooking chamber divider and configured for insertion into the cooking food support slide-in level in the upper cooking chamber region, wherein, when viewed in a height direction of the cooking appliance, a distance between an upper face of the cooking chamber divider, when inserted into the cooking chamber divider slide-in level, and an upper face of the cooking food support when inserted into the cooking food support slide-in level is between 10 mm and 30 mm, and/or wherein the cooking appliance further comprises a heating element fixedly arranged in the upper cooking chamber region and embodied as a top-heat and/or grill heating body, with a distance, when viewed in the height direction of the cooking appliance, between the upper face of the cooking food support, when inserted into the cooking food support slide-in level, and the heating element in the upper cooking chamber region and/or an upper rim of a boundary flange which defines a loading opening of the cooking chamber is between 160 mm and 210 mm.
 13. The cooking appliance of claim 12, wherein the distance between the upper face of the cooking chamber divider and the upper face of the cooking food support is between 19 mm and 24 mm.
 14. The cooking appliance of claim 12, wherein the distance between the upper face of the cooking food support and the heating element in the upper cooking chamber region and/or the upper rim of the boundary flange is between 166 mm and 189 mm.
 15. The cooking appliance of claim 12, further comprising: a hot air system configured to conduct hot air into the cooking chamber; and a wall defining the cooking chamber and having ventilation openings through which the hot air of the hot air system is conducted into the cooking chamber, with the ventilation openings arranged only above the cooking chamber divider slide-in level, when viewed in the height direction of the cooking appliance.
 16. The cooking appliance of claim 15, wherein the hot air system acts only in the upper cooking chamber region when it is activated and when the cooking chamber divider is inserted into the cooking chamber divider slide-in level.
 17. The cooking appliance of claim 15, wherein the cooking chamber has at least two of said cooking food support slide-in level arranged at different heights and supplied with hot air at a same time by the hot air system, when the cooking chamber divider is removed from the cooking chamber.
 18. The cooking appliance of claim 12, wherein the cooking chamber divider includes a base unit and a heating element arranged on the base unit and embodied as a top-heat heating body for the lower cooking chamber region when the cooking chamber divider is arranged in the cooking chamber divider slide-in level.
 19. The cooking appliance of claim 12, wherein the cooking chamber divider includes a heating element embodied as a bottom-heat heating body for the upper cooking chamber region when the cooking chamber divider is arranged in the cooking chamber divider slide-in level.
 20. The cooking appliance of claim 12, wherein the height of the upper cooking chamber region is greater by at least 10% than the height of the lower cooking chamber region.
 21. The cooking appliance of claim 12, wherein the height of the upper cooking chamber region is greater by between 10% and 30% than the height of the lower cooking chamber region.
 22. The cooking appliance of claim 12, further comprising a heating element fixedly arranged in the lower cooking chamber region and embodied as a bottom-heat heating body.
 23. The cooking appliance of claim 12, wherein the cooking chamber is divided by the cooking chamber divider such that in one of the upper and lower cooking chamber regions a first type of heating is implementable and at a same time in the other one of the upper and lower cooking chamber regions a second type of heating is implementable and is different from the first type of heating, wherein the first and second types of heating in the upper and lower cooking chamber regions do not influence, or substantially do not influence, one another.
 24. The cooking appliance of claim 12, wherein the cooking chamber divider includes a heating element having electrical terminal contacts which automatically come into contact with electrical mating terminal contacts when the cooking chamber divider is inserted into an end position in the cooking chamber.
 25. The cooking appliance of claim 12, wherein the cooking chamber divider includes a heating element, said cooking chamber divider including support feet which in the height direction of the cooking appliance extend further downwardly than the heating element of the cooking chamber divider. 